Ask Dominic

[relliott]

Brian whats with the angry attitude buddy.?
You are normally one of the good guys.
Somebody shoot your dog today or what?

[Brian E. Kelly]

Fine Robert go up and down the stairs to your hearts content.

Hope this helps.

Happy enough for you?

[relliott]

Ohhhhhh Kay and now for a word from our sponsors.

Russ , why to small.
It for work , not pleasure.
If people can use all the other hand held games and PDA's this is even bigger.
I am going down to micro center in the next few days and will let you know how it is.
I wear reading glasses so the opinion will be real.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

I wasn't knocking laptops. There are more guys using laptops on site than there are guys using tablets, even with our own software. I work on a laptop all day long (literally 20+ hours a day). I'm just saying the price difference isn't that big. If you're getting something new, consider a tablet.

I'm pointing this stuff out to help guys here stay educated. I ran technology for a school with over 500 computers, and I built ALL of them. I've purchased laptops and tablets as they are not worth building (though possible). And still do consulting for a few large companies that I started working with at 18 and refuse to let me go. So I'm up on technology.

Like Russ said, type of inspection REALLY matters. I just got off the phone with an inspector who finished a 30,000 square foot commercial building today. Walking back and forth with a laptop wouldn't work. The tablet works, a Q1 would work, or taking notes on paper would work.

Brian, we're talking about work machines here, not gaming consoles. I have remote controlled Bob and Russ's computer and watch them batch import 200 photographs in under 30 seconds and both of them have single core 1ghz machines. My Dual Core 2.0 ghz LAPTOP does it in 25 seconds. For the 1 program your using on the inspection, anything above 1.2ghz or so won't matter. Now, if you're running word and a few other programs at once, that might be difference as MS Office is a hog. HIP is 5 megs total, not much ram to be used.

I'm thinking you haven't looked at the tablet market in awhile. You can get tablets for performance, or for size. Looking at a few of the performance laptops:

HP 2710p I suggest you click on the View Demo button. It's Core 2 Duo, up to 4 GIGS of ram, 100 gig hard drive or 64 gig solid state drive. Starts at $1600 new.

HP Tablets starting at $899 new Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz (heavier than the first, which is why the price is lower but it can go much faster)

Fujitsu Lifebook T4220 Here's another Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz machine (this is faster than my laptop I use to program our software by the way. And it can play every one of todays games). Up to 4 gigs of ram, 160 gig hard drive, Wireless a/b/g/n (even my laptop doesn't have a or n).

Here's the funny part. I can't find a Fujitsu laptop that goes above 2.2ghz (though I might have missed it). The price between the laptop and tablet is not more than a few hundred bucks. And both are capable of the exact same speeds.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

I wasn't knocking laptops. There are more guys using laptops on site than there are guys using tablets, even with our own software. I work on a laptop all day long (literally 20+ hours a day). I'm just saying the price difference isn't that big. If you're getting something new, consider a tablet.

I'm pointing this stuff out to help guys here stay educated. I ran technology for a school with over 500 computers, and I built ALL of them. I've purchased laptops and tablets as they are not worth building (though possible). And still do consulting for a few large companies that I started working with at 18 and refuse to let me go. So I'm up on technology.

Like Russ said, type of inspection REALLY matters. I just got off the phone with an inspector who finished a 30,000 square foot commercial building today. Walking back and forth with a laptop wouldn't work. The tablet works, a Q1 would work, or taking notes on paper would work.

Brian, we're talking about work machines here, not gaming consoles. I have remote controlled Bob and Russ's computer and watch them batch import 200 photographs in under 30 seconds and both of them have single core 1ghz machines. My Dual Core 2.0 ghz LAPTOP does it in 25 seconds. For the 1 program your using on the inspection, anything above 1.2ghz or so won't matter. Now, if you're running word and a few other programs at once, that might be difference as MS Office is a hog. HIP is 5 megs total, not much ram to be used.

I'm thinking you haven't looked at the tablet market in awhile. You can get tablets for performance, or for size. Looking at a few of the performance laptops:

HP 2710p I suggest you click on the View Demo button. It's Core 2 Duo, up to 4 GIGS of ram, 100 gig hard drive or 64 gig solid state drive. Starts at $1600 new.

HP Tablets starting at $899 new Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz (heavier than the first, which is why the price is lower but it can go much faster)

Fujitsu Lifebook T4220 Here's another Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz machine (this is faster than my laptop I use to program our software by the way. And it can play every one of todays games). Up to 4 gigs of ram, 160 gig hard drive, Wireless a/b/g/n (even my laptop doesn't have a or n).

Here's the funny part. I can't find a Fujitsu laptop that goes above 2.2ghz (though I might have missed it). The price between the laptop and tablet is not more than a few hundred bucks. And both are capable of the exact same speeds.

I know what we are talking about Dom, I like fast cpu's, clear screens, long battery life, and lots of ram. Tablets are just not for me. Why would you walk around on a commercial inspection carrying a computer? Take some pictures, take some notes, do the report at the office.

I did an inspection or two on a pda for a while, that was a big waste of time, too small, lame operating system, very slow.

As an inspector in one form or another for a long time, for the most part I only note the defects and default back on all the stuff that works. Saves time.

I am glad you built computers Dom, then you must agree with Moore's law and want a new cpu every 18 months or so.


exrta smileys for Bob
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[Dominic J. Maricic]

I guess it comes down to inspecting style. Tablets and laptop speed and quality as I showed above are the same, one just has a swivel screen.

I want a new computer every 12 months If you're only doing inspections a new computer should last you 2-3 years. For home if you doing video editing, gaming and everything else, then you'll need the fastest possible.

I agree about the PDA's, screens way too small. I do like the UMPC's though. Like Russ said, you're in Arizona, the place where nothing is older than 20 years. Very similar to here in California. Anything older gets knocked down and replaced with a McDonalds, lol.

Bob likes smilies!

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

I guess it comes down to inspecting style. Tablets and laptop speed and quality as I showed above are the same, one just has a swivel screen.

I want a new computer every 12 months If you're only doing inspections a new computer should last you 2-3 years. For home if you doing video editing, gaming and everything else, then you'll need the fastest possible.

I agree about the PDA's, screens way too small. I do like the UMPC's though. Like Russ said, you're in Arizona, the place where nothing is older than 20 years. Very similar to here in California. Anything older gets knocked down and replaced with a McDonalds, lol.

Bob likes smilies!

Dom stick to software and web stuff, my parents in CA live in a house built in the late 30's early 40's, and I will do a nice little 1925 house on thursday.
Get out more often.

A new computer for me about 2 years, and I can not justify the big dough and the waste of speed just so I can touch the screen. If touching the screen is what you feel you need to do have at it.

I still believe in Moore's law.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Haha. Yeah I know there's older houses here, just not many. They are far and few between. There is one or two homes in this city from the 1800's. The school I went to was put up in 1903 so I guess that's old

You should come visit Fontana next time you come through. Tens of thousands of homes thrown up in 2 years, now 80% vacant. Ugh.

I actually don't own a touch screen! I am looking at ordering the Q1 or the new Apple Modbook though. I got the EEE PC recently, the little $299 laptop. It's not bad for the price. I'm waiting to see what the next version is like in 2 months.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

Haha. Yeah I know there's older houses here, just not many. They are far and few between. There is one or two homes in this city from the 1800's. The school I went to was put up in 1903 so I guess that's old

You should come visit Fontana next time you come through. Tens of thousands of homes thrown up in 2 years, now 80% vacant. Ugh.

I actually don't own a touch screen! I am looking at ordering the Q1 or the new Apple Modbook though. I got the EEE PC recently, the little $299 laptop. It's not bad for the price. I'm waiting to see what the next version is like in 2 months.

I looked at the Q1 but it turns out I like a minimum 15" screen. I bought a 14" screen laptop and had it one day before I returned it. Old eyes I guess.
PS you know I am one of your long time listeners first time callers.

I preview my reports with my clients on site before I print it out, the larger screen is a bonus for that.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

I looked at the Q1 but it turns out I like a minimum 15" screen. I bought a 14" screen laptop and had it one day before I returned it. Old eyes I guess.
PS you know I am one of your long time listeners first time callers.

I preview my reports with my clients on site before I print it out, the larger screen is a bonus for that.

Haha Debates are good. We're not degrading into a thread of madness like some of the others, cough cough.

My laptop has a 17" screen. A Dell E1705. I also work on a Quad Core system during the day with a 24" screen. I have at least those two running all day long, plus working on servers. I can't handle the smaller screen too much either. My fiance confiscated the EEE. She loves the little keys and 7" screen for browsing the net. It's too cramped for me. I think I'd rather have thumb keys than cramped up keyboard. Good for smaller hands though, or at least someone who isn't pounding on keys all day.

Don't worry, I'll make sure to look you and Dale up next time I drive out to Phoenix.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

Haha Debates are good. We're not degrading into a thread of madness like some of the others, cough cough.

My laptop has a 17" screen. A Dell E1705. I also work on a Quad Core system during the day with a 24" screen. I have at least those two running all day long, plus working on servers. I can't handle the smaller screen too much either. My fiance confiscated the EEE. She loves the little keys and 7" screen for browsing the net. It's too cramped for me. I think I'd rather have thumb keys than cramped up keyboard. Good for smaller hands though, or at least someone who isn't pounding on keys all day.

Don't worry, I'll make sure to look you and Dale up next time I drive out to Phoenix.

Hmmm I just tuned up the jetskis and if Dale gets a day off we are off to the lake.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Hmmm I just tuned up the jetskis and if Dale gets a day off we are off to the lake.

Damn, that sounds good to me!!!!

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

taking notes on paper would work

Finally!

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

here in California. Anything older gets knocked down and replaced with a McDonalds, lol.

Hey, don't speak for all of California. You obviously are a little behind the times. Here we replace it with Starbucks. I'm still waiting for the margarita drive-through like they have in New Orleans.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Yeah here they only have one per mile. When I was in San Francisco a few months ago I saw they had up to 3 per block (about 1/4 mile).